Warm-weather entertaining made easy with expert tips and recipes (BPT) - Warmer temperatures often mean a busier social calendar. So whether you’re planning a meal to enjoy al fresco, or whipping up a sweet treat for a neighborhood block party, it’s a great time of year to experiment in the kitchen. But when you’re trying out a new recipe, do you hesitate when it calls for certain i...
Transform garage sale castoffs into fun finds (BPT) - As the warmer weather is upon us, it brings many new activities: baseball, picnics, beach time and – best of all - garage sales. People are purging what they don’t need or no longer want. It’s the perfect opportunity to turn their trash into your treasure. From outdated odds and ends to forgotten furniture, the...
Three home improvement tips to help you breathe easier (BPT) - One in five Americans suffer from allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). As the 2013 allergy season begins, experts warn that it may be one of the worst in recent years, with people experiencing an unusually strong reaction due to increased tree pollen. But little attention...
Seven rules for keeping your job search on track (BPT) - The economy is starting to turn around, but competition for open jobs remains fierce. For job hunters, the mental and financial stresses mount every day they remain unemployed. To keep job-search momentum high and attitudes positive, it’s important to follow a few simple steps from the experts. “Hunting for a j...
Tips to navigate the real estate landscape and find the perfect home (BPT) - For most Americans your home is the biggest ticket item you will ever purchase. It’s no wonder that people can take months, and sometimes even years, to find the perfect home. When you walk into a house that’s on the market, many times the homeowner or real estate agent has “staged” it to ensure that you focus o...
Take advantage of tax credits to stretch home improvement dollars (BPT) - Warm weather heralds home improvement season. It’s also the season of high electric bills as air conditioners hum to life in response to rising temperatures across the country. When you’re making summer upgrades to your home, improvements that make your house more livable and attractive are even more rewarding w...
May officially marks National Mediterranean Diet Month [Infographic] According to a recent study by BrandIQ and Zoës Kitchen , only 5 percent of Americans are aware that Mediterranean goes beyond Greek food and the cuisine actually encompasses 21 countries. While the results suggest Americans typically stick to their standard diet staples, the majority surveyed are looking to explore culinary techniques and dishes from the Mediterranean. Whether to reap the benefits of a longer life that a strictly Mediterranean diet has been shown to provide, or simply e...
Flip-flop fans: Hard, cold facts about your favorite hot weather footwear (BPT) - It’s easy to understand why we all love flip-flops: They’re cute and comfy, keep your feet cool in warm weather, and are great for showing off that fab pedicure you just got. But no matter how much you adore your flip-flops, they shouldn’t be all-occasion footwear. Sometimes, they can lead to sore feet or even s...
Fun tips for fantastic family vacations (BPT) - Family vacations are always a great time for family bonding and exploring new places. With some careful planning, the trip can be packed full of fun from the minute you lock the front door to the minute you arrive back home, exhausted and ready to share stories of your adventures with friends and family. Travel...
Stretching your summer entertaining dollars (BPT) - Warm weather is “special occasion” season. Whatever your event – a wedding, graduation party, family reunion or July 4th fete – summer celebrations have one important thing in common. Everyone wants to get the most bang for their buck. Fortunately, from renting tables and chairs and other needed items, to do-...
DIY for your IRA: What you should know about self-directing Ups and downs in the current market and recent corporate and banking scandals have prompted many people to seek ways to have more control over their retirement funds. Self-directed IRAs allow consumers to use their knowledge and expertise to invest in assets beyond stocks, bonds and mutual funds. While self-directed IRA...
Aging-in-place upgrades that look great and make sense (BPT) - Do the words “aging in place” and “home improvement” conjure images of institutional-looking grab bars in bathrooms and overhead kitchen lights that could illuminate an airport runway? Many people eschew certain types of home improvements for the same reason others refuse to wear hearing aids – the negative conn...
